DK Eyewitness - DK Eyewitness Top 10 Tokyo

Clockwise from top: Senso-ji Temple, exhibit at the Kite Museum, National Art Center, skyline with Mt Fuji behind, Daibutsu Buddha at Kamakura, Kabukicho district, Chidorigafuchi moat

Everything that is both traditional and modern about Japan is found in Tokyo. Its a city of amazing architecture and fashion, delicious cuisine, and cutting-edge technology. Artistic and cultural traditions have been honed to perfection but the city is also a master of innovation and reinvention. With DK Eyewitness Top 10 Tokyo, its yours to explore.

You may have in mind the Tokyo of popular imagination, a perpetually buzzing, utterly contemporary metropolis, illuminated by neon. But this is also a city of tranquil gardens, ancient temples, and shrines, such as the Koishikawa Koraku-en Garden and Meiji Jingu Shrine. Prepare to be beguiled by the beauty of traditional arts and crafts available to view in museums or buy in stores that have been tended by the same families for generations.

And then there is the food. The famous fish market may have moved to a new location in Toyosu but many specialist food stores remain in the Tsukiji area, an ideal introduction to Japans unique culinary culture. The tastes of Edo the old name for the capital linger in the backstreets of Yanaka and the precincts of Asakusa. Best of all, despite its sprawling size and millions of inhabitants, Tokyo works like a dream. Public transportation is fast, efficient, and inexpensive. Polite service is a given, as are clean streets that are safe to walk any time of the day or night.

Whether youre visiting for a weekend or a week, our Top 10 guide brings together the best of everything the city has to offer, from the glitz of Ginza to the street fashion of Shibuya. The guide has useful tips throughout, from seeking out whats free to places off the beaten path, plus nine easy-to-follow itineraries designed to tie together a clutch of sights in a short space of time. Add inspiring photography and detailed maps, and youve got the essential pocket-sized travel companion. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Tokyo.

Exploring Tokyo

Dont be fazed by Tokyos size and variety of attractions. The following itineraries include the very best sights in this fascinating, multi-layered city. Theres also time for shopping, relaxing, and savoring Tokyos delicious culinary scene.

---

Two Days in Tokyo

---

Day 1

Morning

Take a crash course in art and culture at .

Afternoon

Explore the .

Senso-ji Temples Hozo-mon Gate is a striking structure

Day 2

Morning

Discover the moats, stone walls, and gardens of the .

Afternoon

Crunch down the gravel pathway to .

---

Four Days in Tokyo

---

Day 1

Morning

Have breakfast in in the background.

Afternoon

Enjoy the galleries and museums of Roppongi and then browse the shops of , where there are also great places to eat and drink.

Day 2

Morning

Pay your respects at .

Afternoon

Ascend .

The Edo-Tokyo Museum has fabulous displays.

Day 3

Morning

Tour the grounds of the .

Afternoon

Meander around the 17th-century .

Day 4

Morning

Get acquainted with the shrines, temples, and traditional stores of .

Ueno Park is a green oasis overlooked by modern towers.

Afternoon

Ride the train to .

---

Top 10 Tokyo Highlights

Detail on Senso-ji Temples elaborate Hozo-mon gateway

Top 10 Tokyo Highlights

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

IMPERIAL PALACE GROUNDS

Located at the center of one of the largest cities in the world, the Imperial Palace grounds sit amid a galaxy of busy urban areas. This enormous compound contains the magnificent residence of the emperor, along with a variety of moats, stone walls, watchtowers, gates, and fairytale bridges. The public areas of the grounds are also home to several museums, galleries, and beautiful Japanese gardens. This is a solemn spot, resonating with cultural meaning, and is among the few places where one can witness the incredible persistence of history.

Imperial Palace Grounds

NEED TO KNOW

1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/multilingual Adm for museums and galleries

Google Map

• All museums in the complex are closed on Mondays (except for public holidays). Try to visit the grounds early: the tour groups turn up by mid-morning. The best plum and cherry blossom viewing is from February to mid-April, and azaleas and dogwood in mid-May.
• Picnics are permitted in Kitanomaru Park, but its better to cross the road south of the palace grounds for Hibiya Park, where a pleasant caf serves noodles, sandwiches, and even British fish and chips.

Sakurada-mon Gate

Google Map

This entrance to the outer gardens was erected in 1457. A survivor of earthquakes, fires, and air raids, the entrance consists of two structures: one, a broad inner gate, is angled at 90-degrees to thwart intruders.